Former
military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida says he is unbothered by last
week’s rumour of his death.

He told reporters
yesterday at his Hilltop Mansion in Minna, the Niger State capital: “The rumour
does not shock me; neither does it bother me because I know I must go and meet
God, my creator. There is nothing really to worry about, my religion has told
me.

“As a Muslim,
I strongly believe everybody will die, everybody will die and everybody has to
die. It could be now or in hundred years’ time or two days to come but it
doesn’t matter. Everybody must die.”

Gen.
Babangida, 74, said nobody is above illness or death because it has been
destined by God.There were
rumours last week that the General was critically ill or might have passed on.

But
yesterday, he looked very okay.

On the
state of the nation, Gen. Babangida, who led the country between 1985 and 1993,
expressed optimism that Nigeria will surmount its challenges, adding that the
future of the country is bright and that it has a lot for the younger
generation.“I still
believe very strongly in this country, which is further demonstrated by the
people of this great nation because they are a very industrious people,
hardworking. That gives me the hope for Nigeria,” Gen. Babangida said.